From June 4-7, 1942, Japan and the United States clashed in the Pacific, each one vying to ensure dominance. The Battle of Midway began with an attack on the US Midway base. Soon after, US forces—more specifically, the naval aircraft carriers USS Enterprise, USS Hornet, and USS Yorktown—levied their own battle. These naval aircraft carriers played a crucial part in stopping Japanese expansion in the Pacific, and in the US’ own efforts.
The impact of naval aircraft carriers cannot be understated. From the time these boats were first conceptualized in the early 20th century to now, aircraft carriers have helped naval forces launch (and recover) planes. After the USS Langley’s launch in 1927, the US Navy depended on aircraft carriers to project air power farther than ever before.
Aircraft carriers have been integral components of the United States Navy and have only increased in importance and firepower over the years. Their distinct history demonstrates how the Navy has continually redefined nautical warfare since World War II, which is when the importance of these ships became evident.
In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Enterprise played a pivotal role in the Pacific War as the most decorated ship in the U.S. Navy. The era also saw the introduction of the Essex-class carriers, which formed the backbone of the U.S. naval fleet in the Pacific. (See the most highly decorated U.S. Navy ships of WWII.)
Using archives from the U.S. Navy and other sources, 24/7 Wall St. listed all 33 aircraft carriers from our Navy’s early history, including when they were commissioned and how long they remained in service. Carriers are listed in order of hull classification symbols.
Why We’re Covering the US Navy History
Prior to, and throughout, World War II, the United States used naval power to gain a strategic advantage over enemies. The Navy aircraft carriers allowed for farther-reaching attacks. Soon, the entire world saw the power of the US Navy, positioning us as a world leader in armed forces. US Navy aircraft carriers have evolved over time but remain important for shaping military strategy – and even addressing humanitarian needs worldwide.
Check out the 33 aircraft carriers that kickstarted US naval history.
1. CV-1 Langley
- Class: Langley
- Commissioned: March 20, 1922
- Service Life: 19 years, 11 months, and seven days
- Status: Scuttled and sunk south of Java
2. CV-2 Lexington
- Class: Lexington
- Commissioned: December 14, 1927
- Service life: 14 years, 4 months, and 24 days
- Status: Sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea
3. CV-3 Saratoga
- Class: Lexington
- Commissioned: November 16, 1927
- Service life: 18 years, 8 months, and 12 days
- Status: Sunk in nuclear test target near Bikini Atoll
4. CV-4 Ranger
- Class: Ranger
- Commissioned: June 4, 1934
- Service life: 12 years, 4 months, and 14 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1947
5. CV-5 Yorktown
- Class: Yorktown
- Commissioned: September 30, 1937
- Service life: 4 years, 8 months, and 8 days
- Status: Sunk in the Battle of Midway
6. CV-6 Enterprise
- Class: Yorktown
- Commissioned: May 12, 1938
- Service life: 8 years, 9 months, and 5 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1960
7. CV-7 Wasp
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- Class: Wasp
- Commissioned: April 25, 1940
- Service life: 2 years, 4 months, and 21 days
- Status: Sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign
8. CV-8 Hornet
- Class: Yorktown
- Commissioned: October 20, 1941
- Service life: 1 year and 6 days
- Status: Sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
9. CV-9 Essex
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: December 31, 1942
- Service life: 26 years, 5 months, and 20 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1975
10. CV-10 Yorktown
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: April 15, 1943
- Service life: 27 years, 2 months, and 12 days
- Status: Preserved at the Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum–Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
11. CV-11 Intrepid
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: August 16, 1943
- Service life: 30 years, 6 months, and 27 days
- Status: Preserved at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum–New York, New York
12. CV-12 Hornet
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: November 20, 1943
- Service life: 26 years, 6 months, and 6 days
- Status: Preserved at USS Hornet Museum–Alameda, California
13. CV-13 Franklin
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: January 31, 1944
- Service life: 2 years, 11 months and 17 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1966
14. CV-14 Ticonderoga
- Class: Essex (extended bow)
- Commissioned: May 8, 1944
- Service life: 29 years, 3 months, 24 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1975
15. CV-15 Randolph
- Class: Essex (extended bow)
- Commissioned: October 9, 1933
- Service life: 24 years, 4 months, and 4 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1975
16. CV-16 Lexington
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: February 17, 1943
- Service life: 48 years, 8 months, and 22 days
- Status: Preserved at USS Lexington Museum On The Bay–Corpus Christi, Texas
17. CV-17 Bunker Hill
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: May 25, 1953
- Service life: 4 years, 1 month, and 14 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1973
18. CV-18 Wasp
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: November 24, 1943
- Service life: 28 years, 7 months, and 7 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1973
19. CV-19 Hancock
- Class: Essex (extended bow)
- Commissioned: April 15, 1944
- Service life: 31 years, 9 months, and 15 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1976
20. CV-20 Bennington
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: August 6, 1944
- Service life: 25 years, 5 months, and 9 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1944
21. CV-21 Boxer
- Class: Essex (extended bow)
- Commissioned: April 16, 1945
- Service life: 24 years, 7 months, and 15 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1971
22. CVL-22 Independence
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: January 14, 1943
- Service life: 3 years, 7 months, and 14 days
- Status: Scuttled in 1951
23. CVL-23 Princeton
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: February 25, 1943
- Service life: 1 year, 7 months, and 29 days
- Status: Sunk in the Battle of Leyte Gulf
24. CVL-24 Belleau Wood
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: March 31, 1943
- Service life: 3 years, 9 months, and 13 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1960
25. CVL-25 Cowpens
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: May 28, 1943
- Service life: 3 years, 7 months, and 16 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1960
26. CVL-26 Monterey
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: June 17, 1943
- Service life: 12 years, 6 months, and 30 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1971
27. CVL-27 Langley
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: August 31, 1943
- Service life: 3 years, 5 months, and 11 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1964
28. CVL-28 Cabot
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: July 24, 1943
- Service life: 11 years, 5 months, and 28 days
- Status: Scrapped in 2002
29. CVL-29 Bataan
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: November 17, 1943
- Service life: 10 years, 4 months, and 23 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1961
30. CVL-30 San Jacinto
- Class: Independence
- Commissioned: December 15, 1943
- Service life: 3 years, 2 months, and 14 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1972
31. CV-31 Bon Homme Richard
- Class: Essex
- Commissioned: November 26, 1944
- Service life: 26 years, 7 months, and 6 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1992
32. CV-32 Leyte
- Class: Essex (extended bow)
- Commissioned: April 11, 1946
- Service life: 13 years, 1 month, and 4 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1970
33. CV-33 Kearsarge
- Class: Essex (extended bow)
- Commissioned: May 2, 1946
- Service life: 23 years, 8 months, and 13 days
- Status: Scrapped in 1974
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